Virtual Paris Tours: Visit Paris from Your Couch via the Internet

I don’t know about you, but I’m missing my favourite city right about now! From strolling along the Champs Elysées to admiring the dazzling Eiffel Tower illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights, there sure is nowhere in the world quite like Paris. And so, if you’re in search of a little Wanderlust inspiration and fancy seeing something new, here are the very best virtual Paris tours which you can enjoy at home, from the comfort of your couch!

Virtual Paris Catacombs Visit

The Paris Catacombs are a network of disused limestone quarries, inspection tunnels, and storage spaces stretching out in a maze of somewhat unmapped space deep under the City of Light. Since 1814, the Paris Catacombs you can visit as a member of the public today has functioned as a Mausoleum.

Once owned by the Catholic Church, the area under the 14th arrondissement is now managed by the City of Paris. Visit today and some all of the inspection tunnels mark the names of Parisian street names no longer in use. The area open to the public stretches around a mile in length and can now be visited virtually via the internet (too cool)!

Virtual Louvre Visits

As the largest museum in the world, the Louvre is one of Paris’ crowning jewels and is set against the backdrop of a former Royal Residence. Well-known for its central glass pyramid and as being the home to the likes of the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, even if you’re ‘not a museum person’.

When it comes to Louvre Virtual tours, there’s no shortage of marvels to be enjoyed from your own home. So whether you wish to see Egyptian Antiquities, what’s left of the Louvre Moat, or get up close and personal with the ornate Galerie d’Apollon, there’s easily enough to keep you occupied over the space of an afternoon.

Virtual Invalides Visit

Though not quite as immersive as some of the other virtual tours of Paris out there, truth be told, that you can still virtually enjoy the interior of the Invalides Dome, i.e. the final resting place of Napoleon, thanks to a fantastic series of detailed 360-degree photographs.

Sacre-Coeur Basilica Virtual Visit

One of the most iconic attractions in the district of Montmartre, i.e. the 18th arrondissement is that of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Sitting in pride of place on the top of the Montmartre hill and overlooking the rest of the city, the Basilica is said to stand where

One of the coolest aspects of the Sacré-Coeur tour is that you can also enjoy an audio guide description, complete with fascinating stories and little historical details you might never have found out (even if you were to visit the ecclesiastical building in person). Including both interior and exterior shots so that you can fully explore the basilica, there’s also the opportunity to listen to the organ (a rare treat that you wouldn’t get if you were to visit during normal opening times)!

Virtually go up the Eiffel Tower

Even if many of us might not be able to physically see the Eiffel Tower for quite some time (even for many Parisians, all they can see is the Eiffel Tower beam from their apartments, which continues to be illuminated each night), there’s still the possibility to enjoy the Iron Lady thanks to virtual tours online.

Enjoy the view from the top, over the Champs de Mars, learn about the construction and history of the tower, and even take a peek inside the secret room which is hidden in plain sight, right at the top of the tower! You can also walk the streets surrounding the Eiffel Tower virtually thanks to Google Maps!

Virtually admire the Arc de Triomphe

Many visitors to the city don’t know this, but there are actually four triumphal arches in Paris! As well as the Arc de Triomphe which we all know and love (and which offers breathtaking views onto the Eiffel Tower), there’s the Porte Saint Louis, Porte Saint Denis, and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. Though the Arc de Triomphe tour is not as interactive as some of the other Parisian virtual tours, you can still enjoy gorgeous 360-degree shots of the famous Parisian landmark.

Virtually visit the Musée de l’Orangerie

Situated in the very heart of the Jardin des Tuileries, the Musée de l’Orangerie is set over two levels and features a plethora of beautiful artworks. However, perhaps none are as famous as those of Monet’s waterlilies. Now, you can enjoy the beauty of these paintings while lying on your couch or cooking dinner!

Virtually visit Versailles

Though not technically in Paris proper, no visit to the French capital would indeed be complete without venturing out onto a day trip from Paris to the Château of Versailles. Bold and beautiful, what started out as a modest royal hunting lodge was transformed into one of the most sumptuous palaces in the world under the reign of Louis XIV, i.e. the Sun King.

Now, you can visit Versailles virtually (try saying that five times in a row really quickly!) Stroll through the Hall of Mirrors, be in awe of the art work created for Marie Antoinette, and marvel at over 20,000 pieces of artwork! The virtual tour is created in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture and also includes untold stories and quirky historical facts you would never have heard of otherwise.

Virtually visit Musée d’Orsay

One of the most iconic museums in Paris is that of Musée d’Orsay, a former train station turned art museum. Situated along the banks of the River Seine and home to many impressionist pieces of artwork, including Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ this must-see cultural institution can now be visited virtually! From learning about the history of the place to inspecting all of the stunning pieces of artwork up close, there’s enough information to keep you entertained for hours.

Sainte Chapelle

Some of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval stained glass in the world can be found in Sainte Chapelle, in the heart of Île de la Cité and just streets away from the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Home to two equally stunning and ornate places of worship, the spaces amaze and awe visitors in equal measure.

Enjoy Paris street art

One of the coolest things about wandering the streets of Paris, is the sheer number of street art pieces and installations, dotted all across the city. From intricate lifelike designs to jaw-dropping abstracts that fill the entire side of a building, there’s no shortage of incredible street art pieces to discover in Paris, all from the comfort of your armchair!

Watch the Eiffel Tower Sparkle

The Dame de Fer is perhaps the most iconic landmark of all, and is probably never quite as beautiful as when it twinkles with hundreds of thousands of lights on the hour, every hour during the evening for a full five minutes. Well, luckily for us, you can still enjoy the sparkling lights of the Tour Eiffel, even if you can’t make it to Paris right now!

Luxembourg Gardens Virtual Tour

Home to a large pond with little wooden toy sailboats that can be rented by kids and adults alike during the summer months, the Luxembourg Gardens lie on the fringes of the Latin Quarter of the city and are just a stone’s throw away from the church of Saint Sulpice.

Other highlights of the Luxembourg Gardens include plenty of beautiful blooms in the spring and summer months, and of course, the stunning Medici Fountain, a showstopper of a water feature. Thanks to the internet, you can virtually enjoy the beautiful Parisian park for yourself!

Virtually visit Saint Étienne du Mont

If you’re looking for one of the best-kept secrets of the Latin Quarter (an area so-called because the students of the Sorbonne University would converse with one another in Latin during the Middle Ages), then you need to look no further than the Église Saint Étienne du Mont.

Situated in the shadow of the Paris Panthéon, the little-known church was used to film one of the most iconic scenes from Midnight in Paris. Today, the Parisian ecclesiastical building has the last remaining rood screen in Paris and is the final resting place for the relics of Saint Genevieve, the Patron Saint of Paris.

Paris Virtual guided tours

If you’re looking for a more interactive experience when it comes to your Paris virtual visit, then there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in this too. From learning about highlights of the Louvre with an expert to exploring Paris’ underbelly via the catacombs, here are our picks for the best guided virtual tours of Paris.

Paris: Louvre Virtual Tour with Art Historian

Taking place over the course of an hour with a qualified art historian, enjoy a virtual visit of the Louvre. Discover the secret history of the Mona Lisa, learn about the Winged Victory of Samothrace, all from the comfort of your own home. Book the virtual tour here.

Paris: Catacombs Virtual Tour with French History Expert

If you want to learn even more about the Paris catacombs, then you might consider booking a virtual tour of the Paris Catacombs. This one hour Paris virtual tour is led by a French historian, who will reveal many of the unusual stories behind Paris’ underground spaces. The virtual visit will also include a peek into some spaces which are closed off to the public. Book the virtual tour here.

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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, Paris, pizza, and history, though not necessarily in that order. A fan of all things France related, she runs solosophie.com when she's not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming her weight in sweet food. Currently based in Paris after studies in London, she's spent most of her life living in the beautiful Devonian countryside in South West England!

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Sophie Nadeau

Travel Writer & Culture Blogger

Bonjour, ciao, and welcome to my little corner of the internet! For the past five years, I've been writing about the weird and wonderful on this travel and culture blog, with a particular focus on history, hidden gems, and offbeat adventures in Europe and beyond.

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